Overview

Programme duration 12 Months
Programme name Level 2 - Rail Engineering Operative
At Vital Rail, we take pride in being a major support services provider dedicated to enhancing, renewing, and maintaining rail, light rail, and underground infrastructure. With over 40 years of experience, we stand as a RISQS accredited supplier of personnel, ensuring that safety, delivery, and innovation are at the forefront of all our endeavours.

What you’ll do

We’re looking for Apprentice Railway Track Operatives to join our team, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the UK’s rail network.

Responsibilities include:

• Protect, Inspect, maintain, and renew track assets (rails, sleepers, ballast, switches & crossings).
• Provide Safety Critical support to protect yourself and the railway workforce.
• Support major rail upgrades and renewals across the network.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliance with Network Rail standards.
• Champion health & safety across all work sites.

The Typical shift

• Assisting as a team member in managing the rail line possession.
• Attending (S)PICOP and COSS briefings; raising any concerns if the messages are not clear.
• Supporting pre-possession checks, briefings etc and be in place at blocking points at least one hour in advance.
• Monitoring of blocking points and place boards and detonators according to the Network Rail guidelines.
• Attending worksites to carry out safety audits on behalf of Network Rail.
• Attending and supporting on site walkouts (pre work) to understand the environment and investigate all safety concerns.

This is a fantastic opportunity to start your career with Vital Rail offering an excellent apprenticeship salary of £22,000 + a company van and fuel card provided.

From the location of your site, you would be expected to travel approximately 1 hour from this location on a regular basis. With this in mind you must have held a driving license for more than 1 year, with less than 3 points and no convictions for drunk driving.

As an apprentice you’ll

• complete a Level 2 Rail Engineering apprenticeship standard.
• have regular one to one sessions with a dedicated trainer either remotely or through visits to your workplace.
• learn and train for a specific job.
• get paid and receive holiday leave.
• get hands-on experience in a real job.
• study for at least 20% of your working hours.
• complete assessments during and at the end of your apprenticeship.
• be on a career path with lots of future potential.
• be entitled to a TOTUM membership.

Other information:

• Employer website: https://www.vital.uk.com/
• Future Prospects: On successful completion of the apprenticeship you may be offered a permanent position.
• Skills required: Must have held driving licence for more than 1 year, with less than 3 points and no convictions for drunk driving.
• Qualifications required: None required as full training will be given; however already having your PTS Track Induction would be beneficial.
• Personal qualities: We are looking for someone with resilience, impeccable time keeping, attendance and work ethic.
• Things to consider: The work will be mainly nights, weekends and unsociable hours in all weather conditions; resilience is required.

Due to fatigue management rules on the railway you will need to live within 1 hour travel time of the locations.

People with unspent convictions welcomed; exclusions: Arson, Terrorism, Sexual Offences.

This vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received and you may be invited to an interview before the closing date. Please ensure you apply early to avoid disappointment.

What we’re looking for

• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• PTS certification (desirable, but not essential as training will be given) and willingness to work flexible hours (including nights/weekends).

You must (Essential)

• Be a driver with less than 3 points on your licence and be aged over 21.
• Be prepared to cover an area determined by the underwritten positions available.
• Undergo a Medical along with a drug and alcohol test prior to commencing any training.
• Complete 9 days PTS course, 12 mentoring shifts, 3 days IWA course, 1 day PSS.

Application instructions

To continue please click apply to fill in a brief application form. Once applied your details will go through an initial screening process to ascertain suitability. If suitable you will be called by an Apprenticeship Recruitment Advisor to discuss the vacancy further and to check your eligibility for an apprenticeship. If you are eligible/suitable your details will then be passed on to the employer.